Chiefs LT Josh Simmons Out: Is KC a Safe Survivor Pick?
Sep 26, 2026
The stakes: a shaky blind side against Miami
Protecting the quarterback is the quiet foundation of every survivor pick. So when the Chiefs turn to an undrafted rookie at left tackle for a second straight week, it's worth a pause before you lock Kansas City into your ticket for the matchup with the Dolphins.
The news: left tackle Josh Simmons is out, and Kansas City is again set to start undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson in his place. On the other side of the ledger, cornerback Mansoor Delane is set to play. That's the full picture the reports give us right now.
What the Simmons news actually changes
A left tackle is the last line of defense on a quarterback's blind side. Losing your projected starter there and replacing him with an undrafted rookie — for the second week running — is the kind of detail survivor players should factor in, especially against any pass rush that can exploit it.
The flip side is context. One rookie tackle doesn't automatically sink a team's game plan; coordinators can scheme around a young blocker with quick throws, extra help, and tempo. And the return of a healthy cornerback in Delane is a small plus for the other side of the ball. The point isn't panic — it's that the protection situation is a real variable rather than a non-story.
How to weigh it for your pick
- Simmons out, Benson starting: a genuine question mark at a premium position. If you were leaning on Kansas City partly for a clean, high-floor blowout, dial your confidence back a notch.
- Delane set to play: a modest positive, but a single corner doesn't move the needle nearly as much as an offensive-line question.
- The bigger discipline: don't over-index on one injury report line. Survivor is about your whole season, not one week's roster churn.
The survivor takeaway on the Chiefs
The honest answer is that this news nudges Kansas City from "lock it and forget it" toward "read the room." A rookie left tackle protecting the blind side is a legitimate wrinkle, but it isn't a disqualifier by itself. If KC still fits your season-long plan and you're comfortable with the protection risk, it can stay on your ticket — just go in with eyes open rather than treating this as a stress-free spot.
Whatever you decide, the smartest survivor players save their strongest teams for the weeks they need them most and spread their exposure over the long haul. If you're mapping out those decisions, dig into more survivor analysis on the blog, and if you haven't yet, start a free survivor pool to put the strategy to work.